Mirwaiz farooq for complete ceasefire in Kashmir

Sumbal, north Kashmir, Apr 18 (UNI) Moderate Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq today urged the Centre to announce a ceasefire in Jammu and Kashmir, and asserted that the separatist amalgam will persuade the militant leadership to reciprocate.

''If India takes one step, we will take ten. If India announces complete ceasefire, the Hurriyat Conference will persuade the militant leadership to reciprocate,'' the Mirwaiz told a public gathering here.

''New Delhi is not ready to take even one step....is obstinate and unrelenting and expects pro-freedom groups to extend support to it on various issues,'' he added.

The Hurriyat chairman said India should immediately put an end to the alleged selective killings, fake encounters, human rights violations, harassment and custodial killings to ensure return of peace and normalcy in the strife-torn state.

He said the militants did not take up the guns for the sake of fun, but were forced to resort to the armed struggle.

India should give preference to the Hurriyat Conference, which is the true representative of the people, the militants and the United Jehad Council in any dialogue process aimed at resolving the Kashmir issue, the Mirwaiz added.

He said the Hurriyat Conference represented the aspirations and sacrifices of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. ''The killers cannot be the representatives of the people,'' the Mirwaiz said, referring to the mainstream political parties.

The Hurriyat chairman lashed out at the National Conference and the Peoples Democratic Party for playing with the sentiments of the people of the state.

He expressed the hope that the ongoing bloodshed and violence would soon end and peace returned to the troubled state.

''The black night will soon give way to a bright and sunny morning. A permanent peace will soon usher in Jammu and Kashmir,'' the Mirwaiz asserted.